--------------------------------------------
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896.2 NVIDIA Signals Move to PixelFlow Architecture The chief architect of PixelFlow is Steve Molnar. As far as we can determine there was only one 3D chip effort at IDT. It has been terminated.
898.1 Correction on NVIDIA 128 Review on Remote Review The title should read NVIDIA TNT.
903.2 STB Takes Hit with 3D Card Returns -- One reader pointed out that the source of the card problems and returns were that the ZX chips were from TSMC not ST. That is, STB and Gateway had been using ST chips for about 6 months and then shifted to new ZX chips from TSMC when the timing differences appeared.
904.2 SP3D - New Company Enters the High End 3D Chip Market -- The target clock rate for the bus interfaces to the Star chips is 125MHz. The 2 X 9 configuration was a description of a 9 chip solution that includes: Star, Comet and a 3rd party geometry engine. The full up configuration specs are:
--1GPixel/s fill rate for bilinear filtered texture-mapped,
--10M triangles/sec
***CGDS Gets VR Patent for
Novel Design
(October 30)
Computer Graphics Systems Development Corporation (CGSD), has been granted U.S. patent No. 5,803,738 for its device that allows participants in virtual reality environments to touch real objects in those environments. The invention, called TOPIT (Touched Objects Positioned In Time), has been built and demonstrated in a virtual cockpit for flight simulation. When using the simulator, the pilot wears a head mounted display which shows the cockpit interior and instrument panel, as well as the out-the-window scenery. When the pilot reaches for a control on the virtual instrument panel, a computer tracking the pilot's hand determines which type of switch or knob the pilot is reaching for. Before his hand reaches the control, a custom- designed, high-speed robotic system moves the proper device into position to correspond with what the pilot sees in his display. He can then actuate the control with the exact physical sensations he would feel when using the real device.
The advantage of TOPIT over completely virtual systems, or virtual systems with conventional haptic feedback, is that the user perceives the force, resistance, and other tactile cues of touching a real object, while maintaining the flexibility of a virtual environment. In addition, unlike any other commercial haptic feedback system, TOPIT is able to provide devices that twist, such as radio knobs, so that torque-related feedback is available. In the virtual cockpit simulator, the appearance of the cockpit interior and the positions of all the controls can be changed almost instantly by simple alterations of the software. A single simulator can then serve for a number of different aircraft, or design changes in instrument panel layout can be simulated and tested without the construction of expensive mock-ups. This technology is expected to provide significant cost savings to the developers of aircraft and other operator cockpits and control systems.
Development of the prototype system was partially sponsored by the U.S. Army's Simulation Training and Instrumentation Command in Orlando, FL. Several commercial firms are evaluating TOPIT to aid in the design of automobile and aircraft controls layouts, and for designing control panels for power plants.
The U.S. patent for "Apparatus for robotic force simulation" was issued to CGSD president Roy Latham and assigned to the firm. CGSD has trademarked the TOPIT abbreviation. CGSD Corporation is a privately-held systems integration firm, founded in 1990, that performs contract-sponsored research related to virtual reality and simulation systems. They also provide tools for visual simulation professionals, turnkey simulation and entertainment systems, and consulting in all aspects of visual simulation.
Roy Latham is a long time friend of the WAVE Report. We have seen TOPIT and it represents technology done from a different perspective. Rather than develop haptic technnology, Roy has taken a different approach and put real control where it is needed. This is both a simple and elegant approach. The patent award is a recognition of what has been accomplished with TOPIT. We also found the press release refreshing. Factual, to the point and hype devoid.
***VectorWorks Sees the
Light of Day
(October 30)
Diehl Graphsoft announced VectorWorks which it's MiniCAD software with object-based technology. The VectorWorks product includes a programming language, VectorScript which allows users to create custom objects and tools. The company plans on promoting the VectorScript Development System to third-party developers. While VectorWorks is currently in beta phase, company officials say they plan to release the product by year-end.
***VR Travel Guides on CD-ROM
(October 30)
Netgate Publishing, a London and Amsterdam based company, will be bringing virtual tours in 11 European cities on one CD-ROM. Where books show facades or architectural highlights, this multimedia experience makes it possible to move around and see and hear the cities as they really are. The product uses QuickTime Virtual Reality panoramas, interactive maps and 3D objects.
CITIES of EUROPE is intended to be informative, educational and entertaining.
Minimum system requirements: Windows 9x, NT (QuickTime for Windows, on disk) or Macintosh: double speed CD-ROM drive, 8 Mb RAM, 256 colors screen. US $39
***MP3 Association Formed
(October 30)
GoodNoise Corp., MP3.com, MusicMatch, Xing Technology Corp., and Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. have announced the formation of the MP3 Association, an industry trade group focused on the continued evolution and adoption of the MP3 (MPEG 1 or 2, Layer 3) standard.
The Association will has three primary goals: promoting MP3 technology as the next-generation digital music format, educating consumers about MP3 and its legal use, and opening new creative avenues for musicians and developers.
GoodNoise Corporation is based in Palo Alto, CA and is an Internet record company focused on the Internet as a platform for the sale and electronic delivery of music.
MP3.com is based in San Diego, CA was founded by Michael Robertson in November of 1997. With more than 3,000 songs available for free download, MP3.com has became the No. 1 music download site on the Internet with 3 million visitors monthly. Today, more than 5 million songs have been downloaded from MP3.com, where the DAM (Digital Automatic Music) program, an online label of sorts, offers artists digital distribution and a 50% royalty. More than 1,000 artists and 100 labels actively participate using MP3.com as a promotional tool for their music.
MusicMatch, based in San Diego, CA was incorporated in February of 1997. The company develops complete MP3-focused digital audio solutions, allowing people to elevate their multimedia PCs into powerful components of their stereo systems.
Xing Technology Corporation, based in San Luis Obispo, CA is a provider of MPEG audio and digital software. Since its founding in 1990, Xing has been an innovator in emerging media standards, including MPEG-2 video, DVD, and MPEG 1 or 2, Layer 3 (MP3) digital audio.
Diamond Multimedia based in San Jose, CA, provides multimedia solutions for home, business and professional desktop computer users. Diamond's new Rio PMP300 is a portable, lightweight digital music player for mixing and storing up to sixty minutes of digital quality music and up to eight hours of voice quality audio from the Internet or a PC. The device uses MP3 compression and features a simple interface for easily transferring and converting files on the PC.
The MP3 Association will be exhibiting at the Webnoize '98 conference in Los Angeles, November 2-4. MPEG 1 or 2, Layer 3, or MP3, is an audio compression standard that allows tracks from an audio CD to be compressed into a digital file 1/10 of its original size. MP3 files can be streamed for live Web broadcasts, transferred to portable music players, or downloaded and purchased simultaneously for a small fee.
http://www.goodnoise.com
http://www.mp3.com
http://www.diamondmm.com
http://www.xingtech.com
http://www.musicmatch.com
***Multiplex Theater Going into Tokyo Disneyland (October 30)
AMC Entertainment has announced that it will build a 16-screen theatre megaplex in Tokyo Disneyland, developed by the Oriental Land Co., Ltd., in Chiba Prefecture. The AMC Maihama 16 Theatre, scheduled to open by the spring of 2000.
The AMC Maihama 16 Theatre in Chiba Prefecture and the AMC Holiday Inn 18 in Toyohashi, also announced, are the fourth and fifth megaplexes to be announced in Japan as part of AMC's international expansion. AMC's first theatre in Japan, the AMC Canal City 13 in Fukuoka, opened in 1996. The second location, the AMC Nakama 16, will open in late fall 1998. The third, the AMC Shinsei 16, is scheduled to open in spring 2000.
Megaplex technology includes AMC's proprietary High Impact Theatre System (HITS), which combines wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens with full digital sound systems featuring Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS).
***Iridium Goes Operational
(October 29)
Motorola has completed testing and system readiness of the Iridium System for commercial activation. Its customer, Iridium LLC, announced yesterday that voice quality and call completion rates have met its standards and that it will begin commercial service as planned on Nov. 1, 1998.
"Motorola announced the Iridium System to the world in 1990. Today we are delivering on the promise of communicating with anyone, anytime, virtually anywhere on Earth from space," said Christopher Galvin, Motorola chief executive officer.
Motorola established several low-earth-orbit satellite industry milestones during development and deployment of the Iridium System including:
· Digital packetized communications network
· Inter-satellite Crosslinks that create a robust global network
· Hand-off of satellite signals without voice link interruptions
· Record-breaking launch schedule by placing an unprecedented 72 satellites on 15 launches from three countries in just 12 months, 12 days (May 5, 1997 to May 17, 1998)
· Launching 14 satellites on three launches from three countries in 13 days (March 25, 1998 to April 6, 1998)
· Using an assembly line approach in the mass production of satellites that enabled Motorola to produce a satellite for the Iridium System in just 28 days vs. an industry standard of 12-18 months, and to produce a complete satellite every 4.5 days
· Assembled and installed 12 gateways in 11 countries in 18 months
· Integrated and tested the world's first digital wireless communications system in 6 monthsThe initial 12 gateways are:
· Iridium Eurasia - Moscow
· Iridium India Telecom - Mumbai
· Iridium Italia (Europe) - Rome
· Iridium Korea - Seoul
· Iridium Middle East/Africa - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
· Iridium North America - Arizona
· Iridium North America - Hawaii
· Iridium SudAmerica - Rio de Janeiro
· Nippon Iridium Corp. (Japan) - Nagano
· Pacific Iridium Telecom - Taipei
· Thai Satellite Telecommunications - Bangkok
· Iridium China - BeijingMotorola operates the global Iridium System network from the Satellite Network Operations Center (SNOC) located in Landsdowne, Va., near the Dulles International Airport. From this new, state of the art facility, 250 Motorola engineers and operators man the satellite flight control stations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making more than 700 contacts daily with the satellites in the constellation.
In a one two punch Ziff-Davis rolled out the suite of WinBench tests and issue 21 of PC Magazine which will get distributed at COMDEX. With a just in time flair issue 21 was received on a pallet directly from the printers in time for the conference on Friday, October 30th.
There are many tests in the suite, however, we will focus on 3D WinBench 99. ZDBop, the Ziff-Davis Benchmark Operations, has made major strides with this version. It is focused on DirectX 6 and is the most thorough test of the API to date. This version had the following goals:
--Improve the quality tests so that they are more automated and less subjective;
--Make the tests less CPU bound which means that there will be a greater spread of performance rankings between 3D accelerators based on actual 3D performance.
--Place an emphasis on texture effects including blending modes.To accomplish this there are now 59 automated quality tests which includes code to compare images and spot quality defects. Of the 59 tests 24 are required by 3D WinMark. In order to overcome previous judgmental issues in quality testing the automated tests are strict. The emphasis at ZDBOp is on creating as few false positive automated tests. A tester can override a positive judgement and fail a test, however.
3D WinMark is done in Hi-Res triple buffered mode. There are two modes for testing based on the size of the memory available:
8MB Adapters
1024 X 768
16bpp color and Z
Triple Buffer
Flipping
Full Screen and No Anti-Aliasing
85Hz and with
VSync On4MB Adapters
800 X 600
16bpp and Z
Triple Buffer (AGP)
Double Buffer (PCI)
Flipping
Full Screen and No Anti-Aliasing
85Hz
VSync OnDirectX 6 is required to run the tests, however, DirectX 5 drivers are acceptable. The use of the execute buffer has been dropped. Only
DrawIndexedPrimitive mode is used. However, stips and fans are not used. Some of the features supported by the test include:
--Shading
--Specular Highlights
--Dithering
--All Culling Modes
--Texture Addressing
--Filtering
--MIPMapping
--Perspective Correction
--Depth Buffer
--Color Key
--Alpha
--Texture Blending
--Pixel Blending
--Fog
--Anti-Aliasing
--Texture Fidelity Test
--Triangle Rasterization
--Tile-Based Architecture LimitsThe 3D WinMark 99 tests is the industry standard benchmark. It tests the following:
--15 scene walkthrough tests
--3D WinMark score is the summ of all 15 results
The features tested include:
--Nearest MIPmap Linear - 15 Tests
--Pixel Blending - 15 Tests
--Source Alpha - 15 Tests
--Add - 6 Tests
--Modulate - 5 Tests
--Modulate 2X - 3 Tests
--Multitexture - 10 Tests
--Fog - 1 Test
--Specular - 1 Test
--No Tests of Anti-Aliasing or TrilinearThe scene complexity statistics include:
--Average Triangles per frame
--To D3D: 1800 to 23,700, with Average of 8,000
--Actually Drawn: 1800 to 17,500, with Average of 5,500
--Pixel Overdraw: 1.6 to 4.7
--Textures (up to 256 X 256)
--1.3M Average per frame
--.9M to 7.8M texels max per sceneThe textures tested include:
--Mix of Palettized and RGB Textures
--AGP and Video Memory are Treated as the Same
--Texture Reloading is timed and Occurs even with Large Texture Memories
--The Level of Texture Complexity has Increased
--8 or 15 Tests use more that 2MB of TextureThe tests do no evaluate the S3 compressed texture capability even given that it is in DirectX 6.
There are tests also for the impact of the CPU on 3D performance. These include tests for transform and lighting and transform only.
Features omitted from the tests include:
--Tri-linear
--Bump Mapping
--Anisotropic Filtering
--Stencil Buffers
--32 bit color
--Anti-AliasingActions by the vendors which are considered cheating include:
--No dropping small triangles
--No changing MIPmap LOD bias
--Do Not Drop Frames
--Flush Queue at Buffer Lock
--Do Not Approximate Things Like Modulate Pixel BlendThe test results from Issue 21 include the following:
--Editors Choice - Business - Matrox Millennium G200
--Editors Choice - Enthusiast - Creative Labs Graphics
--Blaster
--AGP Accelerators___Card ____ Chip __ 3D WinMark 99
Diamond Monster Fusion 3Dfx Banhsee 497
Diamond Viper 550 NVIDIA TNT 493
ELSA Victory II 3Dfx Banhsee 491
ElSA Erazor II NVIDIA TNT 487
Creative Graphics Blaster Riva TNT NVIDIA TNT 475
STB Velocity 4400 NVIDIA TNT 475
Metabyte Wicked3D Vengence 3Dfx Banhsee 442
Canopus Spectra 2500 NVIDIA TNT 440
Leadtek WinFast 3D S320 NVIDIA TNT 439
Matrox Millennium G200 Matrix G200 386
Quantum 3D Raven 3Dfx Banhsee 363
BioStar Crux 390 S3 Savage 354
Number Nine Savage Reality 357
S3 Savage 340STB Nitro 3200 S3 Savage 340
Real3D Starfighter Intel 740 232
Great Magic Machspeed Raptor 740
Intel 740 222Intel Express3D Intel 740 222
Prolink 3D Combo plus Intel 740 222
Number Nine Revolution IV 32MB
Ticket to Ride IV 190
Resolution 1024 X 768 by 16 bit.The surprising result was the strong showing of the 3Dfx Banshee chip. The Diamond Monster Fusion card scored above the TNT cards including Diamond's own Viper 550. We found it interesting that in spite of the strong showing that the 3Dfx Banshee did not make the Editor's Choice.
The S3 Savage based cards are well behind the leaders. There is a shortfall in the current implementation of Banshee cards - it does not yet support triple buffering. The review makes estimates for the performance which we have not shown here.Showing its end-of-life signs is the Intel 740 chip. With scores at less than ½ the leading chips it has become hardly competitive.
At both the conference, the Benchmark Tech Forum, and in issue 21 Real3D receives a strong rebuke for cheating. On page 21 of the issue we quote:
"When testing the Real3D StarFighter in front-buffer mode, ZDBOp noticed choppiness in playback that didn't seem right. ZDBOp then videotaped the 3D WinBench 99 racetrack sceen running at 1,280 - by-1024 resolution, 16 bits per pixel in front buffer mode. It appeared that every frame equal to 0,2,4,6,or 8 modulo 31 was not displayed. In effect, 5 out of every 31 frames were dropped. Any performance results already gathered or publishes for the Real3D StarFighter cards using 3D WinBench 98 over the past year should be considered suspect."On page 273 the magazine goes on to say:
"In our labs, the StarFighter had significant difficulty with the 3D WinMark quality tests. We found many errors during objective quality tests, including incorrect execution of MIP-mapping operations, many fogging operations, and several geometry features, including anti-aliasing. Although the DVD support is useful, Real 3D has hitched its wagon to the wrong star with the i740."Unfortunate given that Real3D was substantially responsible for the design of the I740.
ZDBOp is back on track. The 1999 tests are a major improvement over 1998, which had significant shortcomings. Now with the ability to discriminate between chips rather than the testing the host CPU we should see some very interesting results in the next year.
It is unfortunate that Real3D had to use cheating on the benchmarks to inflate its scores. Here is a company with one of the strongest heritages in the industry being reduced to ridicule at the conference. Sad.
***HP Introduces the HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC (October 19)
Hewlett-Packard introduced the HP Jornada Handheld PCs, based on the new Microsoft Windows CE operating system, Handheld PC Professional Edition. The HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC, is a 2.5-pound e-mail companion that delivers unparalleled convenience and communications capabilities.
The battery lasts for up to 10 hours without recharging the battery. In addition, an optional, extended battery pack increases battery life for up to 15 hours without altering the size of the unit.
The unit is based on An Intel StrongARM 190MHz processor, and includes a built-in 56Kbps v.90 modem. There is a built-in VGA-out port, enabling connection to any standard VGA monitor or projector.
The HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC is $999 and is expected to be available in North America starting in November through corporate resellers and retail locations. The HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC is backed by a one-year limited warranty.
***Motorola Invests in
Online
(October 19)
Motorola announced it has acquired a minority stake in Online Anywhere of San Jose, California. Online Anywhere is a start-up founded in 1997 and originally funded by Draper Richards, a San Francisco-based venture firm and a consortium of private investors.
Using patented technology, Online Anywhere's software reformats web pages for different sizes and shapes of displays such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), like the Palm Pilot, and web connected televisions. In addition, Online Anywhere's software will also enable effective access to web pages through regular voice-only telephones. Unlike competing technologies, which require webmasters to manually reformat web pages for non-PC devices, Online Anywhere's technology enables the Author Once, View Anywhere model by automatically reformatting HTML and Java-based web pages, on-the-fly, to fit the available display. "Online Anywhere's technology enables people to access the Internet from a PDA, TV or phone, even though each of these devices have different displays." Said Dr. Ronjon Nag, Vice President and General Manager at Motorola's Lexicus Division, part of Motorola's newly formed Internet & Networking Group.
There are more than 250 million web pages. Devices such as the television, the PDA and the phone, have very different screen resolutions, compute power and bandwidth, making a typical web page very difficult to view on different devices. Online Anywhere solves this problem using its application remapping server technology, which works with any browser on any client device.
Optionally, Online Anywhere also provides an ultra-thin client that reduces the cost and complexity of Internet enabling non-PC devices. This technology pushes most of the complexity of accessing the web onto Online Anywhere's remapping server, thus allowing a rich feature set and ease of upgrade.
Online Anywhere Inc., founded in June 1997, is dedicated to creating solutions to enable information appliances. Online Anywhere is a part of the Software Business Cluster in San Jose.
***Artisan Components expands its standard cell and I/O library (October. 19)
Artisan Components announced that the company has expanded its standard cell and I/O library families. The company stated that the enhanced library families, are "application-tunable, " enabling Artisan's semiconductor customers to select the optimal blend of speed, power, and density for their target market requirements. These tunings are crucial in system-silicon markets such as computer products, communications, and, increasingly, consumer products. The first customer to receive the new libraries from Artisan is UMC Group
The key enhancement to Artisan's Process-Perfect Standard Cell Library is the move to SAGE (Superior Area and Greater Efficiency), which produces the industry's smallest standard cell layouts. Compared to the company's previous 0.25-micron and 0.18-micron standard cell families, the SAGE-equipped standard cell library produces circuit layouts that are at least 20 percent denser and lower in power consumption.
In addition to the new SAGE architecture and the application tuning algorithms, the existing standard cell library features retained in the new version are:
· 0.18um, 0.25um, 0.35um process support
· Process-Perfect precise optimization
· Comprehensive cell set of 416 cells
· Optimized for synthesis and place and route tools
· Routable in 3, 4, 5 or more metal layers
· Fully verified tool models for over 20 different EDA toolsThe new Process-Perfect Integral I/O library family leverages Artisan's proprietary ESD (electrostatic discharge) and latch-up structures for high reliability. Artisan has also developed a rich pad set that is configurable to any pad-pitch and ESD strategy that customers request. This configurability, coupled with the most rigorous development process, results in a comprehensive I/O offering that best meets the exacting requirements of system-silicon manufacturers.
The Process-Perfect Standard Cell library with the SAGE architecture and the Integral I/O library are available for semiconductor suppliers in 0.35-micron, 0.25-micron and 0.18-micron technologies. Artisan's libraries are available to end-users directly from Artisan or from leading semiconductor manufacturers worldwide.
***NEC Technologies Cuts LCD Monitor Prices (October. 20)
NEC Technologies cut prices of its MultiSync LCD monitors.
MultiSync monitor Old ESP New ESP Decrease
· MultiSync LCD400V 14.1" LCD
-------------------------$999 ---- $799 ---- $200
· MultiSync LCD400 14.1" LCD
------------------------$1199 ---- $999 ---- $200
· MultiSync LCD1500M 15" LCD
--------------------------N/A ---- $999 ---- N/A
· MultiSync LCD2010 20.1" LCD
------------------------$5999 ---- $4999 ---- $1000
· MultiSync LCD2000SE black 20.1" LCD
------------------------$5999 ---- $4999 ---- $1000
***New Study Predicts GPS to Lose Unique Identity (October 20)
The majority of global positioning system (GPS) receivers will begin to lose their identity as a unique product class, according to a new market study published by Forward Concepts.
The report, entitled "GPS'99," predicts that GPS receiver functionality will become embedded in future cellular subscriber sets as well as in many other communication devices. The report also describes how GPS-based safety, security, navigation and information systems will play a major role in the implementation of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and other telematic systems and GPS technology will open up new value-added service sectors.
"GPS'99" is Forward Concepts' second study of the GPS market, written by George Fry of Aviso Micro Technology. The report forecasts that the worldwide market for commercial GPS systems will reach $3.9 billion in 1998 and will climb to almost $15 billion in 2003, representing a compound annual growth rate of 29.2%. The study examines the 12 major system application areas in detail and forecasts both market value and unit consumption. Vehicle navigation still leads the GPS market with a 42% unit market share, led by Japan. However, the report predicts that Japan's market share will shrink as vehicle navigation becomes more popular in Europe and North America.
The GPS receiver integrated circuit (IC) market is also covered, and that market will reach a predicted $1.7 billion in 2003, with embedded wireless applications leading unit sales, according to the report.
GPS'99 is available in North America for $2,750.00 (International: $2,850.00) from Forward Concepts in Tempe, AZ.
***CRT Monitors market will Top $17 Billion in 1998 (October 20)
Stanford Resources reported that cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors will continue to dominate the data display market for the next seven years, despite mounting competitive pressure from flat panel displays. North America and Europe remain the world's largest CRT monitor markets.
The twelfth edition Monitor Market Trends predicts that the worldwide market for CRT monitors will reach 134.7 million units in 2004, from 90.5 million units in 1998. However, revenue will increase only slightly, from $17.2 billion in 1998 to $18.9 billion in 2004, as average selling prices across all screen sizes are expected to decline.
The 19-inch CRT monitor is the fastest-growing screen size category, with expected shipments of 2.4 million units in 1998 increasing to 23.2 million units in 2004. Both 17- and 19-inch CRTs are the focal point for growth in the CRT monitor industry into the next decade. The formerly price-prohibitive 20- and 21-inch monitor markets are now becoming increasingly affordable for general computer users
***New Survey From Convergence.com Shows High-Speed Cable Modem Users are Delighted (October 19)
A survey was conducted among 220 inbound callers to the company's HelpDesk over a two-week period (September 25, 1998 through October 8, 1998) to measure customer satisfaction with the cable modems.
Ninety-eight percent of current cable modem users say they would recommend cable modem-based Internet access to friends, according to Convergence.com Corporation who did the survey.
In addition to those who said they would recommend the relatively new data-over-cable service to friends, 93 percent of all respondents said the service "meets or exceeds (their) expectations." In fact, when asked to make a direct comparison between their new and old form of Internet access, 52 percent said Internet-over-cable resembles "the speed of light vs. the speed of molasses." Another 42 percent compared the experience to "modem on steroids vs. modem on Valium." Just five percent characterized the two services as equal and none said that their old form was better.
When it comes to measuring their own Internet aptitude, the survey shows that cable modem users are more comfortable online than the general population. A total of 94 percent describe themselves as either "web efficient," "potential web head" or dub themselves with the ultimate title of "supergeek." Only five percent admit to being "Internet-challenged" and a mere one percent say they are "hopelessly web-footed."
Cable modem users' self-described aptitude appears to be reflected in their Internet usage levels. While just two percent said "Inter-what?" and nine percent said "Email only" when asked which statement best describes their Internet usage level, 74 percent call themselves "super surfers" or "web addicts." Interestingly, 14 percent admit to spending so much time online they don't know what month it is, answering the question with, "is it really September already?"
When asked which one, cutting-edge, Internet-over-cable service would interest them most, the survey shows that the next wave of Internet-based offerings will have to fight it out for market share: Internet telephony (24 %); Movies on Demand (22 %); Live Streaming Video (19 %); Video Email (17 %) and Video Conferencing (17 %).
Established in January 1998, the Convergence.com HelpDesk currently serves cable systems in California, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. The HelpDesk receives approximately 3,000 inbound calls per month, of which up to one-third are sales-related inquiries. Other frequent call-in topics include questions about Email, browsers and initial service installations.
A private company, suburban Atlanta-based Convergence.com Corporation has successfully launched or assisted in the launch of data/Internet services in more than 30 cable systems in the United States and abroad.
***Alliance Semiconductor Reports Financial Results for the Quarter Ended September 26, 1998 (October 20)
Alliance Semiconductor Corporation reports net revenues of $10.5 million and net loss of $5.9 million, or $0.14 per share for the second quarter of fiscal year 1999 ended September 26, 1998.
The net loss includes a pre-tax charge of $2.9 million to adjust the valuation of the Company's inventory to reflect a decline in market value of inventory in each of the product lines. Also included in the results is a net profit of $3.7 million, or $0.09 per share attributable to recognition of the Company's share of income from United Semiconductor Corporation (USC), based on approximately 15.5% ownership. In the quarter, SRAMs accounted for 61% of revenues and DRAMs 38%.
These results compare to net revenues $29.0 million for the same quarter last year and net loss of $4.6 million, or $0.12 per share, including a net profit of $2.7 million, or $0.07 per share attributable to recognition of the Company's share of income from USC. For the prior quarter ended June 27, 1998, revenues were $10.2 million and net loss of $14.7 million, or $0.36 per share.
"Business conditions have not changed much in the quarter compared to the business conditions in quarter ended June 27, 1998. Average selling prices (ASP) are still soft in SRAM and DRAM product lines," said N. D. Reddy, Chairman, President and CEO of Alliance.
"The Company is aggressively incorporating the leading edge technologies in its SRAM and DRAM product lines. This enables the Company to introduce low cost SRAM and DRAM products having higher speeds and smaller die sizes. As a result, the Company expects improved gross margin in the future quarters."
"During the quarter, to achieve a stronger balance sheet, the Company reduced inventory by 33%, improved cash position and reduced accounts payable from $20.1 million to $6.2 million. Our goal is to further lower inventory and maintain operating expenses at or below present level for the quarter ending December 1998. Furthermore, the Company has invested an additional $3.1 million in United Semiconductor Incorporated (USIC)."
***Asymetrix Reports 43% Revenue Growth to $9.1 Million in September 1998 Quarter (October 20)
Asymetrix Learning Systems reported total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 1998 of $9.1 million, a 43% increase from the prior year's $6.4 million.
Online learning product and services revenues increased to $7.4 million in the third quarter, an 84% increase over the prior year's $4.0 million. Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 1998 was $1.0 million or $.07 per share. This compares to a net loss of $6.7 million or $1.07 per share in the third quarter of 1997.
Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 of $25.7 million increased 46% from $17.5 million in the prior year period. Online learning product and services revenues increased to $21.7 million during the first three quarters of 1998, compared to $9.7 million in the prior year period, a 123% increase. Net loss before the accretive effect of redemption value of common stock equivalents for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 was $2.8 million or $.28 per share. This compares to net loss of $11.4 million and loss per share of $1.83 in the prior year period. Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30,1998 was $4.1 million or $.43 per share.
***Spatial Technology Reports Record Quarterly Revenue (October 22)
Spatial Technology announced record revenue for the third quarter and for the nine-month period ended September 30, 1998.
Revenue for the third quarter was $3,204,000, a 23% increase compared with revenue of $2,610,000 in the same period a year ago. Spatial reported net income for the quarter of $165,000, or 2 cents per share, compared with net income of $10,000, or less than 1 cent per share, in the third quarter a year ago.
Recurring revenue (royalties, maintenance and other) accounted for 54% of total third quarter revenue. Royalty revenue in the quarter advanced 32% to $900,000 from $680,000 in the comparable quarter a year ago. Maintenance and other revenue increased 16% to $840,000 from $722,000 last year. Third quarter license fees increased 21% to $1,464,000 compared with $1,208,000 last year.
Through nine months, revenue was $8,736,000, a 27% increase over revenue of $6,885,000 in the nine-month period a year ago. Spatial achieved profitability for the year-to-date period, reporting net income of $7,000, or less than 1 cent per share, compared with a net loss of $1,205,000, or 16 cents per share, in last year's nine-month period.
The Company signed 23 new license agreements during the quarter, equaling the record new customer agreements signed during this year's second quarter. Bruce Morgan, president and chief operating officer, said sales were especially strong overseas, with six of the new customers coming from the Japanese market.
During the third quarter, Spatial announced that the first commercial application incorporating the Company's Deformable Modeling technology was released by SolidWorks Corporation. Morgan said management believes this new technology will have an important long-term impact within the design engineering marketplace.
The financial table can be viewed in the Spatial Technology Reports Record Quarterly Revenue press release on Spatial's web site.
http://www.spatial.com/news/current_pr/3Q98.htm http://www.spatial.com.
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